It is very important to monitor your employee, his growth and performance and contribution to the system of the company, and more importantly, his habit and is relationship with other in the office, his he a bad egg in the system ? So all this can be done without the consent to avoid the employee faking his behaviour ,this will help you to understand the person and see his flawless easily. So yes it is ethical.
Transaction can be done if the security is exempted from registration in State X and transaction can also be done if the security is listed on the national securities exchange in the United States.